Edward John Monnington was born at Church Bank, Clun, in 1849, to parents John and Ann Monnington nee Cooper. John had married Ann in 1845 in Clun.

 

The name Monnington appears in several forms, from Mannington to Monington with only one 'N'

 

John Monnington was a tailor, who sadly died in late 1851. Ann was pregnant at the time with their second child. Hannah Maria was born in late 1851.

 

In late 1852 Ann remarried in Clun, her new husband was William Wellings.

 

William, Ann and a growing family lived in Clun till at least 1858, they then moved to the Cwm, Knighton.

 

In 1872 Edward John Monnington married Ann Lewis (daughter of Lewis Lewis of Llanbister) in Knighton, under the name Monington.

 

At some point after they married they moved to Carmarthen, this is where their first two daughters were born, Feabeth Ann in 1874 and Kate in 1877.

 

Sometime later they moved to Goathouse Farm, Willey, Kington, this is where they were living when the 1881 census was done. Edward was a farmer of 80 acres. This must have been a huge jump for Edward as on the 1871 census he had been a labourer.

 

On 13th May 1881 a warrant of arrest was put out for Edward, he had been caught stealing.

 

Date was warrant - 13 May 1881

Date of Arrest - 13 May 1881

 

Edward was bailed on 14 May, while waiting for his trial.

 

Date of trial - 27 June  1881

 

Charge - Feloniously breaking and entering a certain building of Jane Bufton, the said building being then within the cartilage of the dwelling house of the said Jane Bufton, and stealing a quantity of oats, the property of the said Jane Bufton, at Willey, on 8th May, 1881.

 

Verdict - Pleaded Guilty

Sentence - Imprisonment with hard labour, 6 calendar months.

 

In 1884 Edward's mother, Ann Wellings died in Knighton.

 

In 1885 Edward was in trouble again.

 

Worcestershire Chronicle 11 April 1885

Edward Monnington (36), farmer was charged with stealing a lamb, the property of William Thomas, at Willey, on the 13th March. Sentence, five years' penal servitude.

 

Description

Born - Clun

Abode - Willey

Complexion - Fresh

Hair - Dark Brown

Eyes - Hazel

Height - 5. 5 ½

Shape of face - Oval

Distinguishing features - Indented scar right jaw, scar second right finger, thigh, knee, top lip, left forearm, knee and top nose, two moles back of neck

 

Start of Sentence - 6th April 1885

Release - 16th March 1889

 

Prison - Borstal (HMP Rochester was founded in 1874 as Borstal Prison, in 1902 it became an experimental juvenile prison of the reformatory type)

 

Destination on Discharge - D. P. A. S. (Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society) Hereford

 

Edward must have behaved himself as he only served 3 years, 11 months, 10 days of his 5 year sentence.

 

In 1889 Edward was added to the Habitual Criminals Register

 

By 1891 Edward, Ann and their children were living at Brookside, Knighton. Edward was back to being a general labourer. They produced 5 children in total:-

 

Feabeth Ann - 1874

Kate - 1877

William - 1879

Edward - 1881

Price (Pryce) - 1890- 1912

 

Feabeth Ann became Phoebe Ann in later life.

 

In 1892 Phoebe Ann gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Lucy Ann, following with another in 1896, Maud Mary.

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle 22 December 1893

KNIGHTON.

The Nuisance Inspector reported that Edward Monnington, Brookside, had disobeyed the notice of the Board to discontinue keeping pigs. The inspector was instructed to give Monnington seven days' notice to remove the pigs, or legal action would be taken.

 

Feabeth Ann aka Phoebe Ann married Francis James Slatcher in 1898

 

Edward's daughter Kate married Walter Harry Edwards in 1900 in Knighton. Kate died at 13 Larkey Cottage in October 1950. Walter Harry (Harry) Edwards followed her in May 1961.

 

Wellington Journal 25 August 1900

KNIGHTON.

THE MISSING NAME

Chas Griffiths. Garth, was summoned by Edward Monnington for being on his land in pursuit of Connies.

Prosecutor said he had rented the right of killing rabbits on The Brook House Farm from Mr. Lote, and produced an agreement.

On the document being examined by the Chairman, it was found that the prosecutor's name had not been inserted in it, and the defendant was discharged.

 

1901 sees the family now living in Wilcwm Cottage, Cwm Road, Knighton

 

Tragedy was set to befall the family.

 

Radnor Express - 17th October 1901

Awful Occurrence at Knighton

CRUSHED TO DEATH BENEATH A SWING BOAT WAGON.

 

A terrible accident occurred at Knighton on Monday, the 7th inst. About 2.30 p.m. a large and heavily laden van, containing steam horses and swing boats, belonging to Mr. J. Gottheimer & sons, of Wellington (who had been located is Nelson Square over the fair week) was being drawn down Broad street by two hones hired for the occasion from Mr Crowe, of Bucknell.  On passing down the steep street near Mr Wainwright's shop, although the basks were tightly fixed, the wheels skidded across the road, and the shaft horse began to kick and plunge. Both horses then started to trot, and one of Mr. Gottheimer's men was knocked down, but although injured, managed to get clear of the wagon. Mr. Edward Monnington, who was standing just below, on the pavement, pluckily rushed across the street and caught the cart mare by the reins as the horses passed at a trot. At an instant he was seen to fell in a sitting position in front of the front wheel, which passed over his body up to the shoulder. He was seen to give one roll over, and then the slipper and hind wheel passed over his back. The horrified spectators drew him out and laid him on the pavement, but he only groaned once, and immediately died.

Dr Griffiths was immediately present, but it was too late, nothing more could have been done.

The deceased, who has resided all his life in Knighton, was about 50 years of age, and was a rabbit catcher. He was a quiet, straightforward man, and was generally respected. The fearful manner in which he met his death while trying to do a kind action, has sent a feeling of great distress throughout the town. His wife and son were helpless witnesses of his awful death.

 

THE INQUEST.

 

The inquest was held at the police-court, Knighton, on Tuesday evening, before Mr. Fred L. Green, coroner for East Radnorshire. The following were sworn on the jury, Messrs A. H. Wainwright (foreman), W. B. Stedman (ironmonger), Joseph Blower (chemist), John Owen (ironmonger), W. W. Turnell (Swan Hotel), J. J. Abley (parish clerk), George Apperley (inn-keeper), George Legge (Horse and Jockey), Charles Evans (tailor), John Holl (inn-keeper), Henry T. Jones (butcher), Samuel Beaumont (labourer) and John Bell (draper).

The Coroner and jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken.

William Monnington said: I am a son of the deceased, Edward Monnington, and am a labourer. I identify the body of my father, who was a rabbit catcher.: he was 52 years old. I was with him in the street yesterday, but only saw him about one minute before the accident. That was in Broad street. I did not myself see the actual accident, but saw my father laying between the two wheels of the wagon. Both the wheels did not go over him, the hind one "skidded" beside him.

By Inspector Jones: I was behind the van when it happened.

Continuing, witness said: My father seemed to give only one breath after I came up. I had been with him for about an hour and a half during the day. He was quite sober. He might have had two pints of beer all day long. I could not say exactly when the accident occurred, but it would be about three o'clock.

The Foreman said the jury had no questions to ask this witness.

Mr. David Lewis said: I am the inspector for the Knighton Urban Council. I was in Broad street yesterday, at about ten minutes to three, and followed the two vans belonging to Gottheimer out of West street to the top of Broad street, where they made a halt to apply the brakes. After applying them the front van was taken down the street by Gottheimer's man (Picking), and a lad from Bucknell, whom I don't know. I told the Waggoner of the hind van to stop at the top until the first van had got to the bottom of the street. While I was telling him, I observed the wagon in front was going fast down Broad street, and I saw Gottheimer's man tumble over. By that time the boy let go of the leading horse. When the van was nearly opposite to Mr Bowen's shop, Mr Monnington (the deceased) rushed out off the pavement to seize hold of the shaft horse, which, however, he failed to do, and fell down. As soon as he fell he seemed to turn himself round, and the fore wheel went across his chest, in a slanting direction. The hind wheel did not pass over him. When the wagon had passed, Mr Chas. Still and myself ran forward and opened his collar and waistcoat. We traced where the wheel had passed, but the skin was not broken. Dr Griffiths then came up and pronounced him to be dead. It was not three minutes after the wheel had gone over him.

The Coroner: How many horses were attached to the wagon?—Two.

The Coroner: Did they appear to be properly harnessed? —0h, yes.

And there were two men?---Yes. Gottheimer's man and boy.

The Coroner: Yes. That would be sufficient. A man to each horse. You say the brakes were all right.

Witness: The hind wheel had the brake on and a "slipper" applied. I saw it applied at the top of the bank, myself.

The Coroner: Do you think the man was in any way to blame?

Witness: I don't think the man in charge could be in any way to blame. He did his best till he was knocked down, and then, of course he was useless. Everything was in good order.

The Coroner: How was that man knocked down?

Witness: The horse was swerving towards the pavement. He fell in nearly the same way as Monnington did, and had a very narrow escape himself.

The Coroner: How near were you to deceased when he was knocked down ?—About fifteen yards.

The Coroner: Is it your opinion that the van overpowered the horse, and that was the cause of the accident ?—Yes.

By the Foreman: Do you think the wagon was overloaded? — It had the ordinary load.

There has been an accident there before? Yes. The only thing I should like to suggest would be that drivers should take the other side of the street, nearer the George steps at that spot.

The Foreman: The slip and brake were both on and right when the accident occurred ?

Witness: Yes. They were Mr. Crowe's  timber horses drawing the vans.

Was the first horse inclined to bolt ?—No. He would get a little restive because the back horse was kicking.

Is it usual to take off the front horse going down a bank like that ?—They had such tackle on; but our Broad street is especially hard and slippery just at that place.

Mr. Blower: Would it not have been better for them to have gone round Victoria road?

Witness: They generally manage to find their way up there when they come in.

The Coroner: Perhaps the horses were not used to this work. Do you wish to hear any ether evidence, gentlemen? You have heard that the deceased ran out to try to stop the horses, and there is no doubt as to what he die from, and that was an accident.

After consultation, the Foreman said they should like to hear the evidence of the wagoner.

Frederick Picking, said: I am a driver for Mr Gottheimer, and live at Oaken Gates. I am accustomed to having charge of the hones with Gottheimer's vans sometimes, not always. Yesterday I was in charge of one of the vans with two horses attached. I started from the top of the street in Nelson Square, where we have been during the fair, and came down to the top of the hill in Broad street, I stopped there, and I put the slipper and brake right myself. I told the other Waggoner to look after the living caravan, which was behind, and I would look after the front one. I started along, and when I had got five or six yards down the hill, something caught the shaft mare in the breeching, and she started to run away. I held her as much as ever I could, but the chain horse knocked me down in the gutter, and I rolled over. I had a very narrow escape of being killed myself. The bush of the wheel caught my finger, and I was knocked out till I got to the bottom of the hill. The slipper and brake were left on till I afterwards took them off. I did not see Monnington knocked down. The horses were strange to me. I had nothing to complain of in the horses.

Mr H. T. Jones (the coroner): Was there any bellyband on the shaft horse ? Witness: I can't say, I did not harness the horses.

The Coroner: Was it not your duty to see the harness was right ?

Witness: Yes, It was in a way, but I was so engaged in going down hill. If there was a bellyband it was a piece of rope. I don't know now. I was that shocked. There are no bellybands to our shafts, those that hire the horses bring them with them.

Mr John Hall(juror): Are there any hooks on the shafts that a bellyband would fit on ?

Witness - Yes. On all our shafts. The wagoner harnessed the horses.

The Coroner: Is Mr. Gottheeimer here ?

Inspector Jones: No, sir.

The Coroner, in summing up, said: It seems from the evidence that this poor man ran out voluntarily from the pavement where he was standing in perfect safety, to try and do a kind action in stopping these horses - therefore the question of negligence does not come into the matter. It also seems that every precaution had been taken in putting on the brakes and the horses seem to have been properly harnessed. Mr. David Lewis says he saw no brakes applied, and explains the facts of the horses running off. Picking says something caught the shaft horse, and caused her to run away, but Mr. Lewis says they were not running away. Anyway it is quite clear that this poor man met with his death by pure accident.

The jury then consulted, and  the foreman announced that they returned a unanimous verdict of "accidental death." He added that the jury would like to warn Mr. Gottheimer that, in future, he should unchain the first horse, and let one horse bring the load down Broad street, as it is so very steep at that spot, and this is not the first accident that has happened to his vans there.

The funeral of the deceased took place in the Knighton cemetery on Wednesday afternoon amid every token of respect and sympathy. The service was performed by the Rev. Victor Lewis, M.A., who is in charge of the parish.

​